Yebo...part 2

Bobbie Bear -- went there Saturday morning...an incredible woman named Erica gave us a tour
of the place. It is a centre for sexually abused children. Bobbie Bear provides a temporary home for the children, shelters them, clothes them, deals with the prosecution of the sex-offender, and finds a permanent home for them. She told some of the most disturbing stories I've ever heard. As children walked around the site, she would say..."That little girl...she tore a page out of a notebook, and as her punishment, her mom stuck a metre-long housepipe up her vagina...when I found her she was bleeding and couldn't walk.""And that one there...she was sold three times for 150Rand ($20 US) to different men who used her as a sex slave.""And those children there...their own parents used them for sex." It was chilling to say the least. It's been almost two years since I've heard such stories, and I was taken back in an instant...to Pinky, and Nalede...and all of the other stories.

The rest of Saturday was better - had a party with the kids! It was Sphewe and Simphewe
(Nolwazi)'s birthdays. Played games, painted, had a brai...was awesome!!!Went to church with the kids on Sunday morning which was...well...interesting. Yesterday spent a long time with the kids -- they received these bikes as a donation and are playing all day long on them...except sometimes they fight over them...it can be tough.

Helped Zama with her homework but she was so far behind, it was difficult. I've never had
to explain privitization or economic development theories to a teenager before. It's tricky and with the language barrier...it's hard. Sphewe (big Sphewe) and the other older boys had
taken off with the bikes so we had to look for them for a while, got worried when they didn't get back...but Pamela talked to them and hopefully set things straight. I think she's doing great as the "head-mom" at Agape, when Zodwa's not there...What else...oh the kids. Saw Nalede which was great!!! She kept saying, this is my old friend...back again!!! She was excited. So was I. She is talking alot more and her English is so good now.Wandele - still the same!!! It was only after being in SA about two hours that I had to change his diaper...reminiscent of the days with Melanie and Alicia, bathing him and Sne, and Nokubonga! But this time he was in the crib, and he had actually stuck his hand down his diaper and started eating his own poo. So gross. He is almost four now but there is still something slightly off. He can't keep food down and is constantly throwing up but then is very hungry so you have to feed him. They sometimes keep him in one room all day -- I let him outside to play for a while but it was like two minutes before he had wandered off and was found eating the dirt. I guess some things never change.

It's strange being at Agape without Nokubonga. But there are a few new kids that are so
great.The new building is looking good -- lots of little cottages with bathrooms and kitchen in each! Oh and they have three huge greenhouses and have started growing vegetables both to eat and sell to make Agape more self-sustainable. They're doing really well!

There's some things I had just forgotten about South Africa...How beautiful the sunrise is over the Valley of 1,000 Hills...The feeling when you drive up to the orphanage and see all the kids at the gate...How mischevious Sphewe's smile can be...How shy Nalede can be when you've just met her...How Sne can use the hoola-hoop for hours! How smelly Wandele's diapers are...How much work it takes to feed all those kids! How sweet Siya, Sakhile, and Khumbalani and the other older boys can be...How much my head hurts after the kids have been playing with my hair all day...How fulfilling it is when their homework actually starts to make sense...

I'm going to the Dream Centre later today, Lindewe's tomorrow -- and I got in touch with
Angel!!! Seeing her Friday. Can't wait. Also saw Aaron but Sakhile has moved to
Jo-burg...

Take care all -- miss you!
Resh